Coming up

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With Pesach just a week and a whisper away, now’s the time to make your final arrangements, especially securing a spot at one of our seders—Communal, Family (ages 3-8), Women’s and Young Adults (ages 18-30)—and make plans to attend services, pre-Pesach Kabbalah Yoga and the Pesach edition of ShabbaTot. See what happened when Rabbi Ninio interrupted her breadmaking to make her booking here, and keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for Rabbi Zwarenstein’s three tips for preparing for Pesach.
 
This period of Pesach happens to fall over ANZAC Day and, as is Emanuel Synagogue tradition, we have planned a Shabbat service dedicated to this commemoration. Our very own ADF Chaplain, Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth RAN will speak on the spirit of ANZAC and why he has a duty to serve. We hope you can join us.
 
In the spirit of the holiday, we are ramping up our Pesach appeal and calling for more donations of non-perishable food items—an excellent use of your chametz—and period products, particularly tampons, through our partner charity, Share the Dignity. Every donation goes a long way to bridging the gap for those members of the community who are doing it tough. We’re so proud of our generous, giving congregation. Thank you for your continued commitment. 
 
There’s a lot going on in our community at the moment. Make sure to check out the Eye on Israel and Around Town sections below, so you don’t miss all the opportunities to connect. In particular, we’d like to highlight our extraordinary congregant Ralph Heimans, who is being celebrated with an exhibition of his outstanding work at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Details, including info about an overnight excursion with JNF, below. 

Please note, this Shabbat morning (Saturday) we are offering one combined service only, from 9.00 am in the Neuweg. We'd love to have you with us.

With six months of the conflict already passed, and with the festival of liberation and freedom on the horizon, this Shabbat we resolve to continue our prayers for the safe return of the hostages and for peace to come quickly. 

Shabbat shalom.

Join us at Emanuel Synagogue for a celebration of the festival of freedom and liberation. This Pesach, we extend an invitation to participate in services (on campus and online) and Seders, yoga and member-hosted gatherings. Join us in community, music, and reflection as we commemorate this special holiday.

PESACH AT EMANUEL SYNAGOGUE: KEY DATES

SUN 14 APRIL
Pre-Pesach Kabbalah Yoga〡10.00 am, Millie Phillips Sanctuary – Register

FRI 19 APRIL
ShabbaTot: Pesach edition〡4.30 pm, Education Centre – Register

EREV PESACH〡MON 22 APRIL
Erev Pesach service〡6.15 pm, Neuweg Sanctuary 

PESACH I〡TUE 23 APRIL
Masorti service〡9.00 am, Millie Phillips Sanctuary
Progressive service〡10.00 am, Neuweg Sanctuary + live on emanuelplus
Kids service〡10.15 am, Education Centre
Family Seder (kids 3-8 years)〡5.00 pm, Heritage Hall – Register
Communal Seder (all ages)〡6.15 pm, Millie Phillips Gallery – Register
Young Adults Seder (ages 18-30)〡6.45 pm, Education Centre – Register

PESACH II 〡WED 24 APRIL
Combined service〡9.00 am
Women’s Seder〡6.00 pm, Millie Phillips Gallery – Register

PESACH IV〡FRI 26 APRIL
ANZAC Day Shabbat (in person only)〡6.15 pm, Millie Phillips Sanctuary

PESACH VII〡MON 29 APRIL
Combined service〡9.00 am, Millie Phillips Sanctuary

PESACH VIII〡TUE 30 APRIL
Masorti service with Yizkor〡9.00 am, Millie Phillips Sanctuary
Embrace service with Yizkor〡10.00 am, Neuweg Sanctuary + live on emanuelplus

SALE OF CHAMETZ

During Pesach, it is not permitted to own any chametz (leavened products). To avoid having to throw or give away the chametz that we may have in our possession, we sell it to a non-Jewish person for the duration of the festival. Often people will authorise a person within the community to sell the chametz on their behalf. Rabbi Kamins has offered to be that authority this Pesach.
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Aid trucks enter Gaza

• Read these 5 tips on how to confront antisemitic incidents at school
• Israel commemorates six months since October 7
• Highest single-day number of aid trucks enter Gaza since war began
• Jews reclaim the Sydney Opera House
• How Militarism has invaded Israeli dating apps
• Visit the Israel Resource Hub on the Emanuel Synagogue website.
• Join UPJ's Solidarity Mission to Israel
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• On Monday, April 15th, join Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth and guest speaker Max Moss, founder of the Jewish/Arab "equal rights" party "All Our Citizens," for Conversations About Israel. Max will share with us his passion and involvement in SquashBond: What's behind this initiative, a brief overview of Israeli Arab citizens in Israel today, overcoming crisis and uncertainty, how he weathered the storm, and the role of SquashBond in Israel. Join us live on emanuelplus or in person at 10:00 am Please note that due to Pesach festivities, this will be the final session of CAI until 6.
  
  

5TH OF NISAN
Torah: Leviticus 12:1-13:59
Haftarah: II Kings 4:42-5:19
Candle Lighting (Friday): 5:17 pm
Havdalah (Saturday): 5:53 pm

FRI 12 APRIL

Jbaby –  register here
10.00am | The Neuweg

Kef Kids – register here
4.00pm | Education Centre

Shabbat Live
Watch on emnauelplus here

6.15 pm | Millie Phillips Sanctuary

Masorti Shabbat Service
6.15 pm | The Neuweg

SAT 13 APRIL

Combined Shabbat Service 
9.00 am | The Neuweg

Kid's Shabbat Service 
10.15 am | Education Centre

TAZRIA
RABBI JEFFREY B KAMINS OAM

Parasha Tazria covers a broad swath of material related to issues of ritual purity and impurity. This week, we begin with the regulation concerning a woman who has given birth, whose state of ritual impurity is twice as long when she births a female instead of a male.  The remainder and bulk of the parasha describes a variety of disturbances erroneously considered together as “leprosy”- tzara’at in Hebrew. Tzara’at can affect not only skin but also contaminated fabrics and leather as well as plastered or mud-covered building stones. 

Continue reading

We extend our sincerest sympathies to those in our community who are mourning the death of their loved ones and we grieve the loss of so many lives in the current war in the land of Israel.

SHIVA

Robert Radzyner, George Shelley, Sid Juter.

SHLOSHIM

Genia Glushankov, Eugene Sirota, Stephen Motbey, David Ben Yakov (David Wilson), Emma Kemeny, Ralph Freeman.

YAHRZEIT
On the anniversary of the death of a loved one, Yahrzeit (annual remembrance) is observed by their relatives. Every year, in the lead up to this day, we will contact you to advise that your loved one's name will be read on the Shabbat before the Yahrzeit.

We invite you to arrange a call up to the Torah in memory of your loved one by completing the form at the link provided in the reminder email.
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• CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ISRAEL – 10.00 am Mondays (online and in person) – stream on emanuelplus
• MEDITATION & KABBALAH – 8.30 am Mondays (online) – register
• MORNING MINYAN – 7.30 am online every Monday to Friday and in person on Thursdays.
• ​​​​​SPEAKEASY – 5.00 pm Tuesdays (online)
• PARASHA STUDY – 8.15 pm Wednesdays (online)
• ​​​​​​​​RABBI MORDECAI'S LISTENING CIRCLE – On hiatus for April
• JBABY – 10.00 am weekly on Friday – register
• KEF KIDS – 4.00 pm weekly on Friday – register
• ​​​​SHABBATOT  – 4.30 pm monthly on the first and third Friday. Upcoming dates: 19 April, 3 May, 17 May, 7 June, 21 June – register
• KOL NEFESH – 6.15 pm, Friday 3 May. Service followed by a vegetarian potluck. Dates for 2024: 31 May, 28 June, 26 July, 30 August, 27 September, 1 November and 6 December.
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APRIL PLAYLIST

La Luna

A popular recent addition La Luna, the enchanting musical by the extraordinary Joanna Weinberg about a Portuguese Jewish philanthropist of the Renaissance Europe-era who helped Jews flee the Spanish Inquisition, we have been fielding requests to make it available for streaming and we have heard your cries. Gather the family around and experience the magic for yourself. Rent or buy at emanuelplus; package includes a special introduction by Joanna and a night with the actors. Enjoy.

A Concert for Israel

This special concert with two of Australia’s finest musical artists. Simon Tedeschi, world-renowned pianist and Eleanor Lyons, international soprano, perform a selection of vocal and instrumental favourites in support of Israel and to raise funds for Magen David Adom (MDA)

We Shout Love with Yemen Blues
Time Out Magazine described them as “one of the most exciting bands in world music right now. Presented by the Israeli Embassy, Yemen Blues performs their new show "We Shout Love" - Say No to Racism.
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Conversations About Israel
A window into the heart of Israel: the country, the Jewish people and our culture. Through insightful interviews and lively debates, CAI explores the diverse aspects of Israeli society, culture, and politics.
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JNF: MEET WORLD-FAMOUS ARTIST RALPH HEIMANS

May 7-8  |  Canberra

Experience the exceptional work of Ralph Heimans AM and engage with the artist himself at the National Portrait Gallery, along with the “Discover Ancient Egypt” Exhibition at the National Museum. $350 includes transportation, accommodation, breakfast, dinner, and gallery entry. Bookings close on April 19th. Please RSVP to rsvpnsw@jnf.org.au or call 1300 5963 563.

LET MY PEOPLE GO RALLY
Sunday 14 April  |  Location to be announced

Together With Israel invites the community to a rally in support of Israel to help bring home the remaining 134 hostages. 

‘L’DOR V’DOR: FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION’
Tuesday 16 April  |  Sydney Jewish Museum

This year’s event, explores the changing face of antisemitism throughout history, offering insight into the devastating impacts of antisemitism if left unchecked.

WOLPER MOVIE NIGHT: BACK TO BLACK
Wednesday 17 April  |  Randwick Ritz

Join Friends of Wolper for the extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse's early rise to fame from her early days in Camden through to the making of her groundbreaking album, Back to Black. Pre-movie kosher drinks and snacks will be served.

JEWISH CARE: NURTURING EMOTIONAL WELLBEING & RESILIENCE

Tuesday 7 May |  9-15 Link Rd, St Ives

Discover effective strategies to support children with anxiety, recognise when it becomes problematic, and develop techniques for fostering empathy and connection to build a strong and healthy bond with your child.

B'NAI B'RITH NSW: SINGLES GIN AND WHISKEY TASTING

Saturday 11 May |  Eastern Suburbs Location

Join a fun-filled Gin and Whiskey Tasting masterclass, featuring a light Kosher meal and drinks, and perhaps even a lifelong connection.

B'NAI B'RITH NSW: QUILTING FOR HOPE PROJECT 
20 March - 30 June |  Location to be announced

Create a square for a decorative wall hanging to be gifted to a community in Israel devastated by the war. No sewing experience necessary.

DONATE NON-PERISHABLES THIS PESACH

This year as we clean out our cupboards and remove the chametz, please think of those who are facing food insecurity and consider donating your non-perishable items to our Pesach appeal. During the seder, we declare, “Let all who are hungry come and eat.” Join us and Mazon in fulfilling this mitzvah, by donating to those in need and alleviating hunger this Pesach. 

FREE TO A GOOD HOME

Next time you're on campus, we invite you to head to the breezeway by the lift and pick up a new treasure from the selection of beautiful books, kippahs, and Haggadot on offer.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: ASYLUM SEEKERS CENTRE 

We're looking for more volunteers to service our monthly lunches for the Asylum Seeker Centre (ASC) in Newtown. This involves preparing, serving and cleaning up after the lunches. The people you will be serving are people seeking asylum. They are on bridging visas and waiting for the outcome of their application for protection in Australia. This may mean living in a limbo state for an extended period of time. Contact info@emanuel.org.au to get involved

WANTED: READING SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS

We have a dedicated group of volunteers who visit several public schools in Sydney (Alexandria, Malabar, Woolloomooloo) to support young students, many of whom are not otherwise able to access the literacy support required to be successful. We invite people who have as little as one hour a week to spare during school terms, to join this group in making a difference to the lives of young children. No formal skills are required; training and support will be provided. Email socialjustice@emanuel.org.au for more.

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